Uncertainty looms at ‘Aspen Acres’ Fire evacuation shelter
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - Monday morning, a Beulah resident woke up on a cot in Pueblo with stiff legs, incredible phone video, and an extreme case of Déjà vu.
"We've lived there for 21 years, and it's like we've never settled yet," John Stalford said. "We've been recovering for 21 years."
Stalford hooked his phone up to his dash and filmed nearly 15 minutes of his surreal drive through the smoke and flames as he fled his home. Watching the images he shared with KRDO13, it comes as no surprise that this blaze made its way far outside the bounds of Beulah.
"I've never been an evacuee before," Colorado City resident Onyx Shaw said. "We might not see this place again. This home again, and that's scary. Change is scary."
After taking a couple of seconds to compose herself, Shaw continued, "Not knowing if I can go home is scary."
Both Stalford and Shaw found themselves with nowhere to turn. They were two of the 20-or-so evacuees who spent Monday night at the American Red Cross evacuation shelter inside the Pueblo Recreation Center.
"I've been deployed to many different places," Red Cross volunteer Rodger Ortiz said.
For the first time, he's a victim of the disaster he's been deployed to aid with.
"You think you've got it all together one second, and, ehhh, it all goes away," Ortiz said.
His second property between Rye and Beulah is now in the heart of the evacuation zone.
“It makes you really think about why you're doing things and different perspectives on what your role is with the Red Cross and what you’re actually trying to accomplish here," Ortiz said.
His help won't put out the flames threatening his home, but it can help evacuees like Shaw feel a little more secure as they navigate one of their worst days.
“Having somewhere to be, even if it were just to sit and have a safe roof over my head, it actually helped, and it was extremely important to me that my family was safe," Shaw said.
Shelter sites and community support
As of Monday morning, the Pueblo Recreation Center had about 20 of its 40 beds filled, while the Wetmore Community Center stayed mostly empty. Both have space for domestic animals in nearby buildings.
Evacuees can bring their livestock to the State Fairgrounds.
The YMCA of Pueblo has opened its doors to evacuees.
1129 Spirits and Eatery in Downtown Pueblo is hosting donations and giving out free meals to evacuees.
Community members are organizing a potluck for evacuees on Tuesday night at Lake Minnequa Park.
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